title: Chlorprothixene in bodies after exhumation.
abstract: Toxicological analyses on body tissues and interpretation of results after exhumation are a challenging task. We report five cases in which toxicological analyses had to be performed due to suspicion of homicide by chlorprothixene intoxication. Exhumations had to be carried out following post mortem intervals in earth graves between two and five and a half years. Chlorprothixene and in some cases also its metabolites could be detected in liver and brain. For the interpretation of the results, chlorprothixene concentrations determined in brain should be used because of a relative isolation of the brain within the skull. However, a loss of organ weights due to post mortem degradation, which may lead to an increase of drug levels, should be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Cologne, Melatengürtel 60-62, D-50823 Köln, Germany.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Käferstein
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sticht
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Madea
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D001834:Body Water; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002749:Chlorprothixene / Q000032:analysis*; D049249:Exhumation; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D009929:Organ Size; D011180:Postmortem Changes
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002749:Chlorprothixene